Pipe molding device



June 8, 1965 L. HoRNBosTEL, JR 3,188,269

PIPE MOLDING DEVICE Filed March 27, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. l

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ATTORNEYS June 8, 1965 L. HoRNBosTEL, JR 3,188,259

PIPE MOLDING DEVICE Filed March 2'7, 1965 y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.LLOYD HO RN BOSTEL. JR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent vO smh 3,138,269 PPE MLDNG DEVICE LloydHornbostel, lr., Beloit, Wis., assigner to Beloit Corporation, Beloit,Wis., a corporation lof Wisconsin Filed Mar. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 268,25811 Claims. (Cl. 162-384) This invention relates to a method andapparatus for manufacturing pipe or other cyl-indrical forms from pulpor the like, and more particularly to a device for molding pipe sectionsdirectly from pulp or the like in a simple and eiiicient manner.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending applicationSerial No. 99,745, now abandoned, which has a tiling date of March 31,1961.

Heretofore, paper pipe and cylinder structures have been Wound by meansof complex machinery from paper strip in a multiple spiralconfiguration, which technique has required the initial manufacture ofthe paper strip aswell as special techniques in processing the pipe.

The present invention overcomes these diiiiculties and permits themanufacture of pipe or cylinder forms directly from .the fiber pulpitself. In accordance with the invention, .a rotating basket is providedwhich is axially sectioned into a plurality of segments backed by aframe having a top frame plate mounted for rotation with a spray pipeand individual backing sections provided with means for selectiverelease and mating engagement of the cylinder segments whereby the pulpfed ,through the spray pipe may be sprayed against the cylindricalbasket and the pipe section thus formed may then be disengaged from thebasket by subsequent outward movement of the individual basket segments.The completed pipe section or other such structure is thereupon releasedand positoned by gravity on suitable receiving or conveyor means. Suchmeans may include a plurality of upstanding substantially conicalstructures which preferably rotate on their own axes to receive releasedpipe sections with minirnal impact and are successively turned away fromthe forming machine or mold so that ano-ther of the cones may be indexedinto position to receive a further pipe section or cylinder.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide amethod and apparatus for forming pipe directly from a liber pulp or thelike.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of pipe formationwhich permits impregnation of the pulp with an asphalt or the likeadmixed therewith or applied sequentially for stabilizing the pipe sothat the materials may be directed against the forming cylinder, therebyeliminating a separate asphalt operation step.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device asdescribed which may be operated continuously so that the energy loss o-fstarting and stopping heavy equipment is eliminated.

Many other features, advantages and additional objects will becomemanifest to those versed in the art from the detailed description of theinvention which follows and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which4a preferred embodiment of a pipe molding device incorporating theprinciples of the present invention is shown by Vvway of illustrativeexample.

On the drawings FIGURE 1 is a side elevational View, partly in verticalsection, of a pipe or cylinder molding machine, and

v including receiving or conveying means, all in accordice -FiGURE 3 isa bottom plan view of the pipe molding machine of FIGURE 1;.and

FlGURE 4 is -a cross-sectional view of the pipe molding machine of thepresent invention taken substantially -along lines IV-IV of FIGURE 1.

As shown 0n the drawings Although .the principles of the presentinvention are of utility in molding apparatus for making articles havingmany configurations and utilizing centrifugal forces for delivering andforming the molded material and for releasing a finished article fromthe mold, a particularly useful application is made to apparatus forforming cylindrically shaped articles and an illustrative embodimentherein shown consists of a molding apparatus for form ing sections ofcylindrically shaped pipe.

Accordingly, a pipe molding device embodying the principles of thepresent invention is shown generally by reference numeral 1i) andincludes a preferably cylindrical basket 12 or hollow body lofrevolution of any foraminous or suitable .porous material for providinga pulp mold and which is divided into a plurality of axial, matingsections as designated by reference numerals 14, 16, 1S, 20, 22 and 24.The basket l2 is backed by a case framerZS having a cross-sectionalpolygonal coniiguration, in the operative position thereof shown, andproviding backing plates 26, 2,8, 3th, 32, 34 and 36 to which theindividual sections 14 through 24 of the basket i2 are secured in anysuitable manner, as by a cement or other fastening means (not shown).The plates 26 through 36 are hinged, in a preferred form of theinvention, to a top plate 3S by a plurality of hinge structures asindicated by reference numerals 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, Si) so as to affordgradual opening and so that the moment of inertia thereof increasesrelatively slowly at such time. The plate 38 is in turn fixedly securedto a spray pipe 52 for rotation therewith by any suitable means, as kforexample, a threaded sleeve connection or the like (not shown). The spraypipe 512 may in turn be journalled in a bearing structure 54 and may beconnected by a suitable sealed join-t to a iixed pipe (not shown)feeding pulp or liber slurry such as 2 percent bagasse slurry into thespray pipe S2.

In order to provide for selective mating engagement of the individualsections 14 through 24 of the cylindrical basket 12 in molding positionand centrifugal release of Ythe sections, suitable tension transmittingmeans, such as steel cables or the like indicated by reference numeralsS6, 5S, 66, 62, 64 and 66 maybe secured to the pipe 52 so as to extendacross the top of the frame plate 38 in perpendicular relation to thehinges 4i), 42, 44, 46, 48 and Sii, respectively, and thence downwardlyover the outer faces ofthe plates 26 through 36 and beneath the plates,to be guided over radially inwardly extending pulleys 68, 70, 72,774, 76and 73 to cable reels 80, 82, 84, S6, 88 and 9i). The pulleyso, 7d, 72,74, 76 and '78 are mounted on an inner wall 91 of an annular drum or thelike 92 in radially inwardly disposed and angularly spaced relationshipand dimensioned so as to permit movement of a finished pipe sectionthere past. The cable reels S0, 82, 84, 86, 88 and 96 are mounted on abottom wall 94 of the drum 92 in vertical alignment with and radiallyoutwardly disposed from their respective pulleys so as to impart anoutward bias to the cables as the Vcables are trained over the pulleysand around the reels. The drum 92 may be integrally formed with anupstanding cylin- :drical housing 96 having an'inturned strap 98 firmlyatiixed to the frame plate 3S and the spray pipe 52 for corotationtherewith and with the cylinder 12 and the case frame 25. A variablespeed motor, illustrated dia- Vgrammatically at reference numeral im),may be connected to the pipe S2V by suitable shaft means to rotate thepipe, drum, case frame and cylinder.

The spray pipe 52 defines a plurality of radially outwardly extendingand axially spacedsprayorices as at 162 which are formed within theconfines of the basket 12, and the spray pipe preferably is tapereddownwardly and inwardly as shown. Thus, as `the assembly 1b is driven bythe motor 111i?, pulp which is fed into the spray pipe 5.?. Will bedischarged therefrom through the spray oriices 162 by means ofcentrifugal force, and will be deposited on the inner surfaces of thebasket 12 in the closed condition thereof as shown in the drawings.

The pulp or slurry after it emerges from the orifices, and as itimpinges and is deposited on the inner surface of the basket 12 issubjected to effects of centrifugal force which causes a spreadingaction of the pulp over the entire inner surface of the basket to form asubstantially uniform layer. This occurs while the pulp is stillsuliiciently huid although dewatering begins as soon as the pulp isdeposited. This spreading iiow of the pulp on the inner wall maintains agood ber distribution and achieves a strong consistent pipe Wall. Ofcourse, a variation in the speed of the motor 1%@ would vary thevelocity at which Vthe pulp is discharged from the orilices 1112 andtherefore `the trajectory of the pulp to the basket and the point ofimpact thereof. Variation in motor speed, therefore, would also effect aspreading action, but numerous tests which I have conducted using thepresent invention indicate that under most conditions of pulpconsistency no variation in motor speed is necessary to effect properspreading of the pulp on the basket.

After the pulp has been deposited on and has spread over the innersurface of the basket 12, continued rotation of the basket effectsgradual removal of liquid from the pulp through the foraminous or porousmaterial which constitutes the basket 12 and gradual setting up of themolded article. in order to remove such liquid from the mold, awhite-water trap 1194 is preferably formed around the lower portions ofan outer face 1116 of the housing 96 and is in open communication withan inner face 1113 of the housing through a plurality of angularlyspaced radially extending liquid passageways or openings formed in thehousing as at 110.

The spreading action of the pulp as it is deposited on the inner surfaceof the basket illustrated in the drawings will normally form a roundedlower edge of the molded article at the lower edge 112 of the basket 12.If

it is necessary for the molded article to have a squared V lower edge,the article may be appropriately cut adjacent its lower edge after thearticle has been formed and released from the molding device. However,the addition of an inturned ilange to the bottom portion 112 of thebasket will result in a squared lower edge of the article without thenecessity of the cutting operation and Without irnpairing release of thearticle from the basket.

In accordance with the invention, the spray pipe S2 permits theintroduction of a suitable pulp stabilizing agent, such as asphalt,directly with the pulp to be sprayed onto the basket. Alternatively, ofcourse, the asphalt may be deposited subsequently as may meet particularrequirements.

In order to remove individual pipe sections thus formed from the machine10, a conveyor structure may be used such as'indicated generally byreference numeral 116 and may include one or more receiving forms asdesignated by reference numerals' 118 and 120 which are mounted on arotatable table 122 supported by rotating means (not shown) so thatsuccessive receiving forms may be indexed into underlying relation withthe basket 12. Bottom portions of the forms 118 and 12) formcircumferentially continuous radially outwardly extending flangeportions as at 124 and 126 for receiving the lower surface of a finishedarticle deposited thereon, and the forms 118 and 120 are rotatablymounted by means of shaft extensions as at 127 disposed in bearings asat 128 in the table 122.

As best illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3, the reels 80, 82., 84 $6, 3S and9b about which are wound respectively the cables 56, 53, 6l), 62, 64 and66 depend in angularly spaced-apart relation from the lower surface 94of the drum 92. Each of the reels comprises a shaft as at which ismounted for rotation on a pair of flange supports as at 132 and 134. .ApairV of reverse acting electric motors indicated at 136 and 138 arealso illustrated as depending from the lower surface 911 of the drum 92and are arranged such that the motor shafts as at 140 and 142 arecoplanar with the shafts 13) of the reels 80, 82, S4, Se, 8S and $0. Theshafts of the motors 136 and 138 and the shafts of the reels areinterconnected for corotation by suitable linkage means, as for example,by means of elongated rods as at 144 and constant velocity universaljoints indicated generally at 145. It will be understood that otherlinkage means, such as flexible force transmitting steel cable, may beused to effect corotation of the motors and the reels.

The motors 136 and 138 may be energized by any suitable means, and inone preferred embodiment ofthe invention, electric wires indicated at143 and 15) electrically connect the motors 136 and 13S respectively toa plurality kof Contact members or brushes 152 and 154 which are mountedon the strap 93 by means of angle supports 156 and 152i.V A plurality ofannularly shaped slip rings indicated generally at 11i@ depend from astationary support member 162 in spaced relation to the spray shaft 52.The brushes 152 and 154 include spring members (not shown) or othermeans to effect a ra-dially inward bias thereto for maintaining asliding, abutting engagement of the brushes with the slip rings.Electric wires 164 connect the slip rings 161? to suitable switchingmeans 156 and to a suitable source of electric energy for selectivelyoperating the Vmotors in either direction of rotation..

Thus upon the completion of the formation of a pipe or cylinder sectionwithin the basket 12 as described, the motors and 133 are energized torotate in a first direction, Vthereby gradually unwinding the cables 56,5S, 6b, 62, 6e and 66 from the reels, whereby the individual basketsections 14, 16, 18, 2t?, 22 and 24 which are normally held by thebacking plates 26, 23, Si?, 32, 34 and Se respectively, in assembledrelation as shown in FIGURE 1, are released by centrifugal force todisengage the basket from the pipe section. The completed pipe sectionthen falls by gravity from the machine 1i? until it is received by theange portion 124- of the form 113, which form gradually tapers upwardlyand inwardly to engage the released pipe at an angle suflicient toretain it. It is not necessary for the machine 1@ to reduce its angularvelocity during the pipe release operation, and the rotatability of theforms 118 and 121i preclude damaging stresses being built up in thereleased pipe as it drops to and engages the form. It will be understoodthat in practice the receiving forms will be displaced axiallydownwardly from the device 10 at a distance such that the supper ends ofthe pipe sections received thereon will pass freely from beneath themotors and reels depending from the drum 92.V Thus the forms willsuccessively be indexed into position as described for receivingsuccessive pipe sections and conveying them to a take-olf position.

The present invention finds utility in producingmolded articles frompulp or the like of varying consistency. If the pulp being used is ofsuch consistency as to effect rapid set-up of the pulp withoutsufficient spreading action, it may be desirable to rotate the pipe 52and the basket 12 at dissimilar speeds to ensure uniform coverage of theinner face of the basket. For this reason, a groove 166 is formed in anouter face 16g of the drum 92 which may receive a motor driven V-belt(not shown) for rotating the drum. If the necessary bearing surfaces(not shown) are mounted between the spray pipe 52 and the strap 9S andthe top plate 38, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, themotor 100 may be used to rotate the spray pipe 52 at one speed, whilethe V-belt may be used to drive the housing 96 at a dilerent speed.Further, the positions `of the orifices 102 formed in the spray nozzle5-2 may be rearranged to provide a variety of impact angles ofthe pulpto the basket 12, but this has been unnecessary in order to achievesatisfactory spreading of the pulp in the tests which I have conductedon the invention.

Accordingly, there has been provided a device which is simple, electiveand may be operated continuously without the need for special startingand stopping machinery, and which atlords production of pipe,cylindrical forms or other shapes directly from pulp or other formingmaterial.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in theart, it should be understood that I ,wish to embody within the scope ofthe patent warranted hereon `all such modications which reasonably comewithin the scope of my contribution tothe art.

I claim `as my invention:

l. A device for molding hollow articles comprising,

a hollow body of revolution having an assembled state and an expandedstate,

means in said body for depositing material to be molded Within saidbody,

means for rotating said body, and

means carried by said body and effected by centrifugal force to expandsaid body from said assembled state `to said expanded state forreleasing by gravity material deposited thereon.

2. A device for molding hollow articles comprising,

a mold having mold segments mounted to move away from one another undercentrifugal force,

means for depositing material to be molded within said mold,

means for rotating said mold, and

means for selectively maintaining said mold segments together in amolding position and releasing said mold segments for said movement awayfrom one another whereby to release a molded hollow article from saidmold.

3. A molding device comprising,

a hollow body of revolution,

a spray pipe connected to said body and having aspray portion in saidbody,

a mold connected to said spray pipe and surrounding said spray portionand having an assembled state and an expanded state,

means rotatably supporting said spray pipe,

means for rotating said spray pipe and for effecting rotation of saidbody and said mold to direct molding material from said spray pipeagainst said mold under centrifugal force and to mold said moldingmaterial under centrifugal force, and

means carried by said body and effected by centrifugal force to expandsaid mold from said assembled state to said expanded state for releasingby gravity material deposited thereon.

4. A molding device comprising,

a mold open at one end,

said mold having a plurality of segments hinged at the other end,

a spray pipe having a spray portion extending into said mold fordirecting molding materials against said molds,

lmeans for rotating said mold, and Y linkage means for each of saidsegments for selectively opening the mold with centrifugal force and forclosing said mold against centrifugal force to release by gravity amolded article from said spray pipe and prepare the mold for moldinganother article successively.

`5. A molding device comprising,

a spray pipe,

ya downwardly opening mold mounted 'to receive materials from said spraypipe and having adjustable segments for effecting successively a moldingposi-tion and an expanded position, and

means for selectively maintaining said segments in molding positionagainst centrifugal force to form a molded article and releasing thesegments with centrifugal force -to mutually expanded condition torelease a molded article from said mold and to remove the article fromthe mold by gravity.

6. A molding device comprising,

a spray pipe,

means rotatably supporting said spray pipe, a mold xedly mounted on saidspray pipe and having hingedly depending segments,

a drum fixedly mounted on said spray pipe and positioned below saidmold,

a plurality of pulleys on said drum,

a cable connected to eachof said segments and'passing over one of saidpulleys, and

means for rotating said drum whereby saidv segments may be held inmolding Lposition or expanded centrifugally by tensioning and release ofsaid cables to successively form materials in said mold from said spraypipe and to release by means of gravity an article formed thereby fromsaid mold.

7. A molding device comprising,

a spray pipe,

means rotatably supporting said spray pipe,

a mold xedly mounted on said spray pipe and having hingedly dependingsegments,

ya drum lixedly mounted on said spray pipe and positioned below saidmold, l

a plurality of pulleys on said drum,

la cable connected to each of said segment-s .and passing over one ofsaid pulleys,

means for rotating said drum whereby said segments may be held inmolding position or expanded centrifugally by tensioning and releaseofsaid cables to.

successively form material in said mold from said spray pipe and torelease an article formed thereby from said mold, and

conveyor means for moving articles away from said Vm-old including aplurality of gradually upwardly and inwardly tapering forms and asupport for said forms rotating successive forms beneath said mold toreceive an article removed therefrom.

8. Molding apparatus comprising,

a normally cylindrical mold formed of a plurality of axially extendingsegments,

a frame for said mold including a backing plate secured to each of saidsegments and a top plate hingedly supporting said backing plates,

a pipe extending into said mold and fixed-ly connected to said top plateand having spray orices for directing material to be molded against saidmold,

means rotatably supporting said pipe,

means for rotating said pipe, and

means for selectively holding said segments in mating engagement andreleasing said segments for outward movement under centrifugal force,

whereby molded articles are released by gravity from said mold.

9. Molding apparatus comprising,

a normally cylindrical mold formed of a plurality of `axially extendingsegments,

a frame for said mold including a backing pl-ate secured to each of saidsegments and .a top plate hingedly supporting said backing plates,

a pipe extending into said mold and fixedly connected to said top plateand having spray orifices for directing material to be molded againstsaid mold, means rotatably supporting said pipe, means for rotating saidpipe,

means for selectively holding said segments in mating engagement andreleasing said segments for outward movement under centrifugal forcewhereby to release molded articles from said mold,

a drum below said mold,

means tixedly connecting said drum to said pipe,

a plurality of pulleys arranged around said drum, and

Ka cable connected to each of said segments and passing 'over one ofsaid pulleys for selective tensioning and release to maintain saidsegments in molding position and release a molded article therefromrespectively.

10. A molding device comprising,-

a spray pipe,

means rotatably supportinU said spray pipe,

a mold ixedly mounted on said spray pipe and having hingedly dependingsegments,

a drum fixedly mounted on said spray pipe and positioned below saidmold,

a plurality of pulleys on said mold, h

a cable connected to each of said segments and passing 4over one of saidpulleys,

means for rotating said drum whereby said segments may be held inmolding position or expanded centrifugally by tensioning and release ofsaid cables to successively form materials in said mold from said spraypipe and to release by gravity an article formed thereiby from saidmold, and

conveyor means for moving articles away from said mold including aplurality of gradually upwardly and inwardly tapering forms and asupport for said forms rotating successive forms beneath said mold toreceive an article removed therefrom,

said forms being individually axially rotatable.

11. A molding device comprising,

a hollow vertical spray pipe having an elongated spray portion forreceiving and delivering a supply of molding material,

means rotatably supporting said spray pipe,

a plurality of radially extending axially spaced orices formed in saidspray portion for discharging molding material therefrom radially ofsaid spray portion,

a frame plate connected to said spray pipe at the top of said sprayportion and disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said sprayportion,

a caseframe comprising a plurality of axially extending segmentsindividually hingedly depending from said frame plate and attaining ahorizontal cross-sectional polygonal configuration,

a cylindrically shaped mold basket comprising a plurality o of axiallyextending sections iixedly, connected respectively to said segments andattaining a horizontal cross-sectional circular conligur'ation,

a cylindrically shaped housing surrounding said caseframe and in spacedrelation thereto,

said housing forming an annular-ly shaped drum member at the lowerportion thereof,

a radially extending strap fixedly connecting said pipe and said housingand overlying said frame plate,

a plurality of circularly shaped pulley members rotatably mounted onsaid drum and being arranged re spectively below and radially inwardlyfrom each of said segments,

a plurality of horizontally extending cylindrically shaped reels havingshafts rotatably mounted on said drum and arranged respectively inunderlying relation to each of said pulley members,

leakage means for interconnecting the shafts of said reels for effectingcorotation thereof,

a plurality of cables connected to said pipe above said frame plate,

each of said cables extending respectively radially outwardly over saidframe plate and then vertically downwardly radially outwardly of one ofsaid segments and then radially inwardly to train `over a respectivepulley member and thence vertically downwardly to be received by arespective reel,

means for rotating said pipe whereby a radially outward bias is impartedto said segments by centrifugal force for effecting expansion of saidbasket,

means for rotating said linkage means and said reels whereby said cableswill be wound or unwound from said reels to respectively tension saidcables to impart a radially inward bias on said basket sections to forma molded article on the inner surface thereof and to releasesaid cableswhereby centrifugal force will effect an expansion of said sections torelease a Imolded article by gravity, and

conveyor means for moving articles away from said mold including aplurality of gradually upwardly and inwardly tapering forms and asupport for said forms rotating successive forms beneath said mold toreceive an article removed therefrom,

said forms being individually axially rotatable.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 176,344 4/ 76Perrine 162-384 268,792 10/78 Burgess 162-384 320,720 6/85 Stevens162-384 464,218 12/91 Johns et al 162-384 768,306 8/04 Rivers 162-2181,267,632 5/18 Clavussen 162-384 1,280,098 9/18 Fulcher 162-2271,303,191 5/19 Fulcher 162-4384 1,510,117 9/24 Von Vass 264-256 DONALLH. SYLVESTER, Primary Exarrzner.

1. A DEVICE FOR MOLDING HOLLOW ARTICLES COMPRISING, A HOLLOW BODY OFREVOLUTION HAVING AN ASSEMBLED STATE AN AN EXPANDED STATE, MEANS IN SAIDBODY FOR DEPOSITING MATERIAL TO BE MOLDED WITHIN SAID BODY, MEANS FORROTATING SAID BODY, AND MEANS CARRIED BY SAID BODY AND EFFECTED BYCENTRIFUGAL FORCE TO EXPAND SAID BODY FROM SAID ASSEMBLED STATE TO SAIDEXPANDED STATE FOR RELEASING BY GRAVITY MATERIAL DEPOSITED THEREON.